By Magnus Effiong
The Commissioner for Rural Transformation in Cross River State, Hon Edem Okokon Effiom has instituted the Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade Foundation for Best Journalists in the State.
Efiom made this known in a chat with the Executive Committee of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) which paid him a courtesy visit.
The Commissioner said apart from the gesture aiming at immortalizing the memory of Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade, Gov Ben Ayade’s mother, it would also serve as platform to encouraging practicing journalists to embark on development journalism.
“I am kicking off the Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade Foundation for Best Journalist with a star prize of N100,000 annually. She was the mother of our governor, His Excellency Prof Ben Ayade.
“To me, this is my own little way of immortalizing the memory of the good woman who God used to bring forth our digital governor. Also, the Foundation is aimed at motivating journalists in Cross River State to step up their watch-dog roles for the good of our society,” he stated.
Hon Effiom noted further that the State government was doing well in terms of human capacity building as well as infrastructure, and therefore charged Journalists to reciprocate the gesture with development journalism.
“The Governor’s intent for Cross River is genuine. Roads are being opened up and I tell you the truth, the impacts of what His Excellency is doing in our State shall be felt by every Cross Riverians very soon.
“As stated earlier, the core mandate of my ministry is to transform rural communities of Cross River with no particular area, and embraces roads, water, sanitation, and even social intervention,” the Commissioner stated.
Speaking earlier, chairman of the Chapel, Mrs Eme Offiong, lauded the State government for its efforts at adding meaning to the lives of Cross River people through tangible projects, but charged it to tackle socio-economic and security challenges especially during the yuletide.
